Oil-feed-signal device.



F. P. LAMAR.

Patented Juhe 5, 1917.

s., Lw C .lr V3 .......l DV.

A LM A ND GF. .IL SH D N rr. EW FT A LC IL OP voruTnD tsTATns PATENT ormoni FRANK P. LAMAR, F SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.

OIL-FEED-SIGNAL DEVICE.

, To all whom 'if may concern.

Be it known that 1, FRANK P. LAMAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Ana., in the countyof Orange, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oil-Feed-Signal Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates 'to an oil feed signal device9 and pertains especially to a device for indicating the fiow of oil through an/oil system. l

1t is an object of this invention to provide a signal system of the character abo-ve described with a mechanically7 actuated means for controlling a perceptible signal.

It is another object of provide'an oil feed signal device with a mechanism operated by the weight of oil in a cup. y i y lt is a further object of this invention to provide an oil feed signal device with mechanism having a cup for containing oil so arranged that the amount of oil therein is dependent upon the flow of oil through the mechanism or the level of oil therein.

-I accomplish these objects by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of the mechanism mounted upon the front end of an automobile, and having my improved oil feed signal device attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the oil feed signal device.

Fig. 3 isa section as -seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 4 indicates generally the front end of an automobile having mounted thereon an engine 5 provided with a crank case sump 6. The suc'tion side of a pump 7 is connect- 4ed to the sump and forces oil through discharge piping 8, and piping 9 to the distribution points for the oil. Connected between the piping 8 and piping 9 is my improved oil feed signal device 10.

The oil feed signal device is preferably comprised of a cylindrical receptacle 11 provided at its upper edges with an ou'twardly extending flange 12 having suitable apertures for receivingv bolts. The lower wall of the receptacle 11 has a nipple 1 3 threaded for connection with the piping 9 and provided with a port 14 for the outflow Lof oil. A boss 15 is formed upon the lower wall and is bored, as indicated at 16 to rel Specification of 'Letters Patent.

this invention to l is sufficient- Patented J une 5, 1917.

y Application led May 13, 1916. Serial No. 97,321.1.

ceive a stem. rl`he upper end of the receptacle 11 is closed by a cover 17 which is provided with a threaded nipple 18 suitable for connecting the discharge piping- 8 thereto and provided with a bore 19 for the inlet of cil. .apertures are provided in the cover 17 registering with apertures in flange 12. Bolts are disposed in registering apertures to secure the cover to the receptacle.

At the center of the cover 17 on the inner side thereof are arms 20 extending downwardly and forming a stem guide. Between the point of attachment of the arms 20 in the cover 17 is formed an aperture 21 which is threaded and adapted to receive an insulating plug 22. Plug 22 is apertured at its center, and has extending therethrough a post 23 having a head 24 at its lower end, thereby providing an electrical contact. The post 23 is threaded and mounted thereon is a threaded washer 25 to coperate withv head 24 for securing the post to the insulating plug. A nut 26 is mounted upon the post 23, thereby providing means for attaching an electrical conductor to the post. Mounted within the receptacle 11 is a cup 27 of cylindrical form, and of such dimensions that its side wall is spaced from the side wall of the receptacle 1l, thereby permitting free movement of the cup 27 upwardly or downwardly and a space through which oil may flow. A leak port 28 is provided in the lower wall of the cup 27 and permits the outflow of oil from the cu Secured to the cup is a stem 29 which exten s downwardly and is disposed in the bore 16. The upper end of the stem 29 is disposed between the guide arms 2O and forms an electrical contact which cooperates with the con- 'tact formed by head 24 on the post 23. The bore 16 also acts as a guide means for the stem 29. Disposed between the walls of the cup 27 and the receptacle 11 is a compression spring 30 which tends to hold the cup 27 in its upper position Oil is forced by the pump through the port 19 and into the receptacle 11. The port 19 being disposed above the cup 27 the oil flows into the cup, and if the rate of flow it fills the cup, edges and passes between the side wall of the cup and the receptacle 11 into the lower part of the receptacle and out through the port 14. Some oil passes through 'the leak port 28 in the cup but if the rate of How of oil is normal the amount which passes overflows the l forces the cup upwardly into the position.

shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. In its movement upwardly stem 29 which forms one Contact of a make and break engages head 24 which forms the other contact.

I have shown an electrical conductor 31 which is connected to the post 23 and leads to one terminal of lamp 33, preferablymounted on the dash board. The other terminal of the lamp 33 is connected by a conductor 34 to a generator 32 operated by the automobile engine. The other terminal of the generator 32 is grounded upon the frame of the automobile as indicated at 35. Engagement of the stem 29 and head 24 completes an electric circuit from the generator 32 through conductor 34, lamp 33, conductor 31 to post 25, through stem 29 which is in electrical contact with the receptacle 11 and its cover 17. As the receptacle 11 andcover 17 are connected by metallic piping to the crank case 6 and the automobile frame, electrical connection is formed between the receptacle 11, cover 17, and the other terminal of the generator 32 through ground 35, completing the circuit.

It is obvious that a decrease in the flow fof oil if sufficient will cause the signal device 10 to make the circuit and light the lamp on the dash board, thereby indicating that theow of 4oil is decreased. Any other perceptible signal than a lamp may be used, such as a bell, whistle, or horn. It is also within the scope of my invention to employ a signal pneumatically operated which may be controlled by the stem 24`operating a valve. I do not wish to limit myself to any particular type of perceptible signal.

What I claim is:

1. A signal device for oiling systems, comprising a closed receptacle having an linlet port for oil at its upper end, and a discharge ort for oil at its lower end;.a cup disposed 1n said receptacle to receive oil from said inlet port, said cup provided with a leak port at its lower end, the side walls of said receptacle and cup being spaced to permit passage of oil and movement of said cup;`

resilient means tending to hold said` cup in its upper osition; and a control means for a percepti le signal operatively connected to sald cup for operating said signal when the cup is 1n its u per position.

2. A signal evce for oiling systems, oomprising a closed receptacle having an inlet port for oil at its upperend, and a discharge port for oil at its lower end; a cup disposed in said receptacle to receive oil from said inlet'port, said cup provided with-a leak port' at its lower end, -the side walls of said receptacle and cup being spaced to permit passage of oil and movement of said cup; resilient means tending to hold said cup 1n its upper position; and a make and break device operatively connected to said cup and interposed in an electric circuit, said resilient means normally tendin to maintain said make and break device c osed.

3. A signal device for oiling s stems, comprisin a closed receptacle hav1ng an inlet port or oil at its upper end, a discharge port `for oil at its lower end, and a bore m the bottom of said receptacle; a cup disposed in said receptacle to receive oil from said inlet port, said cup' provided with a leak port at its lower end, the side walls of" said receptacle and cup being disposed to permit passage of oil and movement of said cup; a stem secured to said cup extending downwardly into said bore, and upwardly to form an electrical Contact; a complementary contact insulated from and secured to the top wall of said receptacle; and resilient means tending to maintain said contacts in closed position.

4. A signal device for oiling systems, comprisin a closed receptacle having an inlet port or oil at its upper end, a dischar e port for oil at its lower end, a bore in t e bottomof said receptacle, and a' stem guide upon the upper wall of said receptacle; a. cup disposed in said receptacle to receive oil from said inlet port, said cup provided with a leak port at its lower end, the side walls of said receptacle and cup being spaced to permit passage of oil and movement of said cup; a stem secured to said cup extending downwardly into said bore and day of April, 1916. FRANK P. LAMAR. 

